Beat to play exhibition vs. Mexico at UGA

Sports briefs

Posted: Thursday, October 18, 2001

By From Staff and Wire Reports

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Beat announced it will play the Mexican women's national team in an exhibition match on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Georgia's Women's Athletic Complex in Athens. The match will be the Beat's first-ever versus a full international squad and proceeds will benefit Sept. 11 disaster relief efforts.

"The Mexican women's team is considered a real up and comer in the CONCACAF region with a core of quality players," said Beat head coach Tom Stone. "This match will be intense and one of the only chances to see the Beat play in the off season."

The match versus Mexico will be the Beat's first full-scale match since the WUSA Championship in Foxboro, Mass. on August 25.

Tickets ($15 general admission bleacher seats and $10 standing room) go on sale to the general public Wednesday, Oct. 24 at noon. They can be purchased through any Ticketmaster outlet including Publix supermarkets, by calling the Beat at 1-877-SOCCER-1 or by visiting www.theatlantabeat.com. With a maximum venue capacity of 3,000, the game is expected to sell out quickly.

Adult basketball registration info

Registration is now being held for the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services' adult basketball leagues. League categories include industrial, men's open, women's open and 35-and-older. The season consists of seven games played Monday, Wednesday and/or Thursday evenings and possibly Sunday afternoons beginning Dec. 10.

Cost is $400 per team and the registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Leisure Services at Bishop Park at 613-3589.

Agassi loses in Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany -- Andre Agassi lost a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking this week when he was upset by Hicham Arazi in the second round of the Stuttgart Masters Series.

Arazi defeated the tournament's second-seeded player 7-6 (4), 7-5. Agassi's exit comes a day top-ranked Gustavo Kuerten was ousted. Agassi could have regained the No. 1 ranking by winning the event.

Agassi was ranked No. 2 in the Champions Race. U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt, who was idle Wednesday, can advance from No. 3 to No. 1 by capturing the Stuttgart title.

Pete Sampras, trying to win his first title in 15 months, had an easier time. He beat Stefan Koubek 6-3, 7-6 (5) of Austria to reach the third round.

Capriati struggles atop rankings

ZURICH, Switzerland -- Jennifer Capriati made an unconvincing start to her reign as the No. 1 player, needing three sets to beat Russian wild card Nadia Petrova at the Swisscom Challenge.

This was her first singles match since she overtook Martina Hingis for the top ranking. Capriati lost in doubles in straight sets in the first round in Zurich.

Lindsay Davenport, fresh off her triumph in Germany last week, had no trouble. She beat South Africa's Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-4 to improve her record in Zurich to 12-1.

This article published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, October 18, 2001.